As a qualified accountant with a healthy love of lycra, Andrew was clearly the obvious choice to be the inspirational leader of the team. Having not taken part in anything like this before but with his life-long love of Liverpool FC, Andrew also brings to the team a natural mix of naivety and eternal optimism, qualities that will help the team through the tough times – getting out of bed, riding without stabilisers…… The event is raising money for two great causes, and despite having Jon Newman in the team, he’s sure that the guys are going to give it their all to complete the ride and raise as much money as possible.

John has chosen to participate in this challenge to ensure RKH Bedford has some representation! The event will be the toughest physical endurance challenge he’s ever attempted and will be something to tell the grandchildren about. He did once cycle over 100 miles in a day and, despite that memory, he’s looking forward to trying it again. He doesn’t expect to be leading the peloton but hopefully won’t be holding everyone back either - but that might be wishful thinking...

Reluctantly recognising that his football playing days are coming to an end and being a lousy golfer, Neil began cycling on Sunday mornings around two years ago. The cycling bug was infectious and he now also enjoys watching the various tours on TV. The opportunity to do something similar and raise money for some worthy causes greatly appeals to him, and it has given him the added incentive to train hard, knowing that the challenge of riding further than ever before, seven days in a row and over some of the highest peaks in the U.K. is only a few months away.

David is always up for a sporting challenge and despite a serious cycling accident in 2011 in Derbyshire (being airlifted to hospital and spending two months in a wheelchair), cycling is still something he enjoys doing socially and competitively. Along with John Aspinall, he’s here to make sure Bedford gets some representation in the event, as well as to take the opportunity to make a contribution to the two charities.

Jon is taking part in this bike ride to raise money for two great charities and because it is a fun RKH thing to do (although a strange definition of fun now he comes to think of it). As the oldest member of the team, he’s looking forward to see if, at his great age, he can complete the ride!

Long before Doncaster Rovers started hiring the lad from One Direction to play for them, James’s glittering football career with Rovers was cut short due to a foot injury. With age no longer on his side and in dire need of increasing his fitness levels, he settled on cycling as his sport of choice. So in 2012 he bought a new bike (my first full carbon frame!) and signed up to RKH’s mega-cyclothon. He can only hope that his penchant for sitting on his backside all day has put him in good stead.